Safety device for aeroplanes.



KENEFIOK. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANBS. APPLICATION FILED 00127 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 130.. WASHINGTON, D4 1:.

J. KENEFICK.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED 001.27, 1911.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

A Z8 Z5 T j 1v "1' I JAMES KENEFIGK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR. AEROPLANES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 27, 1911.

Patented May *7, 1912. Serial No. 657,167.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES KnNnrIoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Aeroplanes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to aerial navigation and more particularly to safety devices therefor for assisting in overcoming gravity and breaking the fall of an aeroplane when the motor thereof has accidentally stopped or been retarded and gravity has overcome the resistance of the planes to the atmosphere.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an aeroplane with suitable means whereby the same may be readily converted into and utilized as a parachute for safe descent from an altitude.

It is also an object of my invention to construct the plane or planes of an aeroplane so that it may be quickly enlarged in the area for the purpose of carrying out the object just set forth.

Another object is to arrange the various parts comprising the safety device so that they may be stored in compact shape and when so packed will form the plane or planes of the aeroplane.

These and other objects I accomplish by the means and in-the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of an aeroplane of the monoplane type showing my improvements applied thereto. Fig. Qisatop plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section (fragmentary)taken on line 33, Fig. 2, drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the safety devices stored and ready for flight. Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing the planes extended and forming a pair of parachutes. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the construction of the end of the locking and releasing lever of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, it will'be seen that I have illustrated my safety device in connection with an airship of the monoplane type. This is done only for the pur pose of convenience, for, when the construction and operation of the same is understood by any one skilled in the art, it will be ob vious that the principles therein involved may be applied to a biplane or aeroplanes of other types without materially departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawings 1 represents the longitudinally elongated fuselage or skeletonframe body portion that is made of timber and braced by wires in the usual manner. The forward end of the fuselage is preferably of greater transverse dimensions than the rear thereof and has the propeller 2, the motor (not shown), and the sustaining planes 3, 3, mounted thereon.

The rear or reduced end of the fuselage carries the double steering rudder 47- As my improvements relate solely to the planes, detailed description of the above-mentioned and other portions of the aeroplane are unnecessary except to state that such parts are of any well-known type.

The outline of the planes is described or inclosed by a rigid rectangular shaped frame work 5 that is substantially U-shaped in cross-section so as to form a channel extending around the same. The outer parallel end members of this frame are lengthened so as to form extensions 5 that project to the rear of the plane and are braced to the fuselage or body 1 by tie-rods 6. Extending longitudinally of the plane and transverse to the body portion are suitable retaining strips 7 7, that are secured to the end members of the frame, the function of which will here after more fully appear.

The surfaces of the planes are preferably made of comparatively finely woven tough fabric and are made with an upper and lower section, the latter being adapted to telescope with or fit snugly against the under side of the former. These planes when extended and opened, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, are preferably tent-shaped and form a parachute,that is, they comprise two converging members 8, 8, that meet .a distance above the plane of the wings and have end members 9 that close the openings formed at each end. In the upper parachute section, the lower forward edge of the fabric is secured to the under surface of the upper portion of the front U-shaped member of the frame, while the lower rear edge is secured to the rear cross-member 10 of the main frame. The rear parachute (which is the lower or under section of the planes) is made similar to the one just described, but

the lower edges of its fabric are secured to the longitudinal edges of a movable frame 11 that is rectangular in shape and has its end edges fitted into the channel of the U shaped main-frame as shown. It is necessary, in case of an accident, to move the lower frame automatically out from under the forward parachute and in order to do this, I provide two or more springs 12, that have one end attached to the rear of the lower frame and the opposite end attached to a cross-arm 13 mounted on the fuselage near the rear end thereof and braced thereto by a stay 14:. These springs are normally under tension when the aeroplane is in flight or under normal conditions) and are retained in this position by means of a transverse winding shaft 15 mounted in bearings 16 on the front of the frame of the aeroplane. This shaft is adapted to wind up a flexible connection member such as a cable or chain 17 having its rear end attached to the front edge of the movable parachute frame which moves the latter to its proper position under the upper parachute. In order to retain the shaft in position, one of its ends is flattened or squared as shown at 18, and said squared end is engaged by an elongated slot 19 in the end of a lever 20 pivotally mounted on the side of the main frame, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In order to positively insure the opening of the parachutes when the same have been released by the lever 20, I secure a suitable rod 21 to the rear portion of the fuselage that is sufficiently resilient to permit its being bent forwardly and downwardly to the relative position, shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The'outer or forward end of this flexible rod is provided with two pairs of lateral spring arms 22 and 23, that dip down below the horizontal plane of the end of the flexible rod. 21 and are each provided with hooked lower ends 24. The apices of the tent-shaped parachutes have loops or straps 25 and 26 respectively secured thereto preferably below and in alinement with the hooks 24 and are engaged by the latter so that when the safety device is released the parachutes will be fully extended, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. When the parachutes are closed, as inmaking a flight, they are adapted to be folded down flat and drawn together '(Fig. 3) and the loops 25 and the apex of the upper parachute are passed under a suitable retaining bar 27 extending entirely across the plane from side to side 'ofthe frame, and having its end opposite lever 20 secured in a yoke or socket bearing 28 that gives it sufficient play to release the adjacent edge of the fabric but prevents said bar from being accidentally removed from the machine. This retaining bar 27 clamps the fabric of the upper parachute firmly between itself and the cross member 10 of the main-frame and has its end next the lever 20 engaging and seated in a notch made in the edge of a stop-plate 29 on the contiguous side of the frame where it is adapted to be held in place by a vertically disposed lug 3O projecting from the upper surface of said lever. A spring 31 normally keeps lever 20 in proper position to lock both the bar 27 and the winding shaft 15 under normal conditions.

In the event of an accident occuring during flight, the aviator need only depress the end of the lever 20 which will instantly release the winding shaft and the retaining rod 27. The springs 12 will immediately pull out the underneath parachute frame, and all the parts having been released the flexible bar 21 will rise to its full height and open, thus extending both parachutes. Under these conditions it will be obvious that the planes will be more than double their original area and at the same time have been automatically converted into double para- .chutes whereby a safe landing may be made in the well known manner.

What I claim as new is 1. In an aeroplane, a plane made in two sections each of which comprises a parachute, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable away from the same.

2. In an aeroplane, a plane made in two sections each of which comprises a parachute, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable away from and opened substantially with the same.

3. In an aeroplane, a plane made in two sections each of which comprises a parachute, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable away from the same, and means for actuating said movable section.

4. In an aeroplane, a plane made in two sections each of which comprises a parachute, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable away from the same, and means for actuating said movable section substantially simultaneously with the other section.

5. In an aeroplane, a combined plane and parachute, and a separate combined plane and parachute mount-ed below and adjacent the same that is movable away from said first mentioned combined plane and parachute.

6. In an aeroplane, a combined plane and parachute, and a separate combined plane and parachute mounted below and adjacent the same that is movable away from said first mentioned combined plane and parachute, and means for opening said parachutes.

7. In an aeroplane, acombined plane and parachute, and a separate combined plane and parachute mounted below and adjacent the same that is movable away from said first mentioned combined plane and parachute, and means for opening said parachutes simultaneously.

8. In an aeroplane, a plane comprising a pair of superposed rectangular frames, a cover for each frame formed substantially V-shaped in cross-section and normally folded flat upon its respective frame, means for retaining said covers in their normal positions, devices for moving the lowermost frame away from the upper frame, and another device that engages said covers and when the latter are released extend the same in the shape of parachutes.

9. In an aeroplane, a plane comprising a pair of superposed rectangular frames, a cover for each frame formed substantially V-shaped in cross-section and normally folded flat upon its respective frame, means for retaining said covers in their normal positions, devices for moving the lowermost frame away from the upper frame, and a flexible rod that engages said covers and when the latter are released extend the same in the shape of parachutes.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of October, 1911.

JAMES KENEFIOK. Witnesses:

FLORENCE MITCHELL, E. K. LUNDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

